Surface for highways, floors, and the like



Jan.'..4 1927. 1,613,063

J. J. STARK SURFACE FOR HIGHWAYS, FLOORS, AND THE LIKE Filed June 15.1923 Patented Jan. 4, 1927.

UNITED STATES JOHN JACOB STARK, OF. DES MOINES, IOWA.

SURFACE FOR HIGHWAYS, FLOORS, AND THE LIKE.

Application filed June 15, 1823.

The object of this invention is to provide an improvement in floors,pavements and the like, having to do particularly with structures of thekind under consideration in which a substantially rigid base is providedwith what is called in the art a soft top of the kind employing asphalt,tar or bituminous materials, in which structure there is provided in thesoft top, reinforcing material, such as expanded metal woven wire orother material of a foramino-us character, in which the parts of thematerial are spaced at different heights from the base in order that inthe completed structure the soft top may be held against rolling,buckling, cracking or other distortion from its normal and proper shape.

A further object is to provide a process for making such a floor orpavement.

My invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the partshereinafter set forth and in the process employing such con structionand arrangement and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1 shows a perspective, sectional view of a part of a bridge,having the floor of the type embodying my invention; and

Figure 2 shows a vertical, sectional view through such a floor embodyingmy invention.

I t is found in making many types of road and highway surfaces and insome floors, that it is highly desirable to provide a structure havingwhat is called in the trade a soft top. The soft top structure has manyadvantages.

It does not break or crack or disintegrate, so readily as rigidconcrete. It does not become rough as does a brick surface. It subjectsvehicles to a great deal less vibration and makes a more comfortablesurface for traveling.

The soft top is usually of the asphalt type. By the use of the termasphalt, I would include sheet asphalt, natural lake asphalt, syntheticasphalt, asphaltic concrete, bitulit-hie asphalt, tar macadam and othersurfaces in which there is a substantial bitumine content, and in whichthe surface has substantial resiliency as compared with ordinaryconcrete, brick and soon.

Another advantage in using the soft top arises from the fact that if thebase breaks or cracks, the soft top works into the broken places, unlessthe break is too great, and thus reduces the roughness to a minimum.

Serial No. 645,599.

Paving contractors and others who use the soft top structurevfind someobjection thereto on account of the fact that the soft top sometimescreeps, rolls, buckles or cracks.

F or many years, users of this type of surfacing have sought some meansto prevent the soft top from creeping or buckling and have been unableto solve the problem involved.

I have provided a soft top surface for highways, floors and the like anda method for making such surface, which makes possible the use of thesoft top structure and does away "ith the likelihood of creeping,buckling, rolling or cracking.

I have in the accompanying drawings illustrated a surface of the kindunder consideration embodying my invention used in connection with thetraflic floor of a bridge.

In the accompanying drawings, I have used the reference numeral 10 toindicate generally a bridge having the sidewalk 11 and having thetraffic floor provided with the cross planks 12.

In making my product and in the practice of my process, I provide firsta substantially rigid base. This base may be as in the illustration aplank floor or it may be a concrete base for a paving.

In some instances, the base is asphalt and in some instances it isordinary rock aggregate or it might be an ordinary dirt base.

It thus appears that the degree of rigidity in the base may varysomewhat and yet the total product may come within the scope of myinvention.

lVhere a plank or wooden base is used, I lay thereon reinforcingmaterial, which may consist, of expanded metal or meshed wire 13 orother strips of suitable material in which parts are bent up so as to beat different distances above the base 12.

The soft top material 14 of asphalt or the like is raked. or otherwisemoved into position above the base and reinforcing strips thereon, andis then subjected to pressure by rolling or otherwise for causing it tobecome homogenous and for binding the parts together and making a smoothsurface.

lVhere the reinforcing material is laid on a wood floor, I fasten it tothe wood base by means of staples '15 or other fastening devices.

lVhere an asphalt base is used and in some instances even where aconcrete base is used, the anchoring or fastening means may be employed.In many instances however, no fastening means for securing thereinforcing inaterial to the base are empl oyedl here a surface isprovided of the kind here under consideration, it will be obvious thatthe sheet'of soft top ill be held together, so that it will not crack,and I find that it does not roll or buckle and does not creep.

The prevention of the creeping of the soft top on the base is of vitalimportance in road or floor surfacing of the kind under considcratioluand makes a very important improi/ement in the Wearing quality and sn'oothness and continuing smoothness of the surface.

STJhen the soft top creeps, it sometimes buckles and makes the roadrough.

After the top creeps and becomes rough it breaks and cracks much morereadily. wOlllQtlHlGS it breaks and cracks Without buckling.

In any event, the road is rougher and after the soft top breaks theentire surface disintegrates much more quickly than befjq w ,7 i

Ittherefore follows that where my process and product are used, they addsubstantially to the life-of the surface and provide a road surface orthe like requiring fewer repairs both in number and time.

My product also affords a smoother more satisfactory surface fortratfic.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of theparts of my structure and int-lie use of the steps in the process, antit is my intention to cover my clain'ra'ny mcditications which may hereasonably included Withintheir scope.

If claim as my invention:

In a surfacing structure, the combination of a substantially rigid basewith a soft bituminous coating supported thereon a meshed wirereinforcing embedded in'the soft coating arranged in Wave like formationwith the troughs of the aves resting" on and anchoree to the base.

H JACQB STAR-1?-

